Three Is the New Four
It’s finally over with. The Phillies have lost their 10,000th game. That being said, and accepted, it barely matters to the realist who watched the Phillies get hammered by a score of 10-2, thereby losing a game to the Mets and the Braves in the NL East standings. At least they didn’t really tease us into thinking they could win the game.
The Phillies have long had the most losses of any sports franchise in professional sports. They only had to lose 45 games this season before they reached the mark, so it was fairly certain that they weren’t going to hold a 118-44 record by Sept. 30. It was going to come, and if we’re going to call ourselves real Phillies fans, we have to accept that there are bigger things to this Phillies season than a number with five digits.
There are things like Adam Eaton’s ERA approaching six. Things like Clay Condrey, the man who relieved Eaton, with an ERA a hair below seven. In fact, we could save a whole lot of time by saying the Phillies pitching staff has the worst ERA in the National League.
If there was ever an argument for what was more important – hitting or pitching – the Phillies are prime hypothetical data to consider. Their team ERA shows them giving up 4.88 runs per game, and the team is scoring 5.32 runs per game. Being that they are averages, the Phillies are right between both of those numbers, with a 46-45 record. They barely score more runs than the amount they give up. The team is average, and that won’t be enough to see a post-season.
If you want more evidence of success and numbers, take a look at the Phillies’ upcoming opponents, the L.A. Dodgers and the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers have the fourth best team ERA at 3.80, and they score 4.59 runs per game. They’ve won 8 more games than the Phillies. The Padres have the best ERA in all of baseball, by far, at 3.16, and have a small-ball offense that scores 4.28 runs per game. The Padres have won 4 more games than the Phillies.
Pat Gillick, tell the fans that this season wasn’t scrapped as soon as plan A didn’t work. All we see right now is a lack of commitment. Fans are going to get tired of a tease, and MVP candidates are going to become something we don’t come to the ballpark to see (especially when they become one-dimensional hitters).
10,000 losses - so what. This season will be over sooner than later, the way this team is constructed. As we’ve said before, Aaron Rowand has to be traded. Rowand’s market value is high as ever, could easily play any outfield position, and Michael Borne’s play, while limited, has been shown to be at a starting level. Borne, additionally, has potential to be a much better fit than Rowand for this team. Hypothetically, Shane Victorino could lead off, with Borne following, and Jimmy Rollins would provide the “protection” that every critic cites as the reason why they shouldn’t do the deal. Rowand has 46 RBIs, and Rollins has 57 RBIs in the lead-off slot. Someone tell us why that wouldn’t work. The lineup would be faster, and hopefully, the pitching staff would improve to providing a more consistent effort.
In the words of a Phillyist writer, who often yells the following when Pat Burrell steps up to bat, we’re asking you, Pat Gillick, to “Do something!”
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For a great rant/breakdown concerning the 10,000 number and some kneejerk media reactions concerning it, check out this post by the guys at BM Rant.
http://www.thebmrant.com/archives/1327
"The team is average, and that won’t be enough to see a post-season."
even though i'm not optimistic about this team's chances this season, i also don't share your pessimism. this team, even as currently constituted, could still make a run for the playoffs. of course, that possibility is premised on the successful rehabilitation and return of tom gordon and brett myers to the 'pen. whether that would be sufficient for a post-season birth is impossible to tell, but it would be an enormous boon to this team's success.
if gordon and/or myers are back and pitching well before the deadline, then i'd like to see the team hold on to rowand for the rest of the season. if neither pitcher is back and pitching well, then they should probably shop rowand, because the season is likely caput.